Trivia

HAM TRIVIA

Amateur Radio is the oldest radio service

Anyone can become an amateur radio operator

Hams contact other hams around the world

Hams exchange “postcards” with other hams whom they’ve contacted

Many different modes of communications are allowed (Morse , telephony, AM, FM, SSB, CW. Hams can even send TV pictures across the country or around the world ! All forms of digital communication are used as well, computers have become a communication tool used by many of the hams today.)

Hams can communicate through satellites

Hams also communicate with Astronauts aboard the International Space Station

Many operators use low power (QRP) to communicate.

Many hams provide emergency communications when needed.

Certificates can be earned for various operating events (in contests)

ORIGIN OF DX

DX is an early telephone term for distant exchange. “This is correct. In the 1960s I worked in many telephone exchanges around the United Kingdom. On the old-fashioned switchboards with plugs and cords, circuits coming in from distant exchanges had a label marked “DX” above the jack socket. The operator would plug into the circuit and announce the name of her exchange, as confirmation to the distant operator that she was through to the correct destination

ORIGIN of 73

In 1859, Western Union standardized on the “92 code” in which the numbers from 1 to 92 were assigned meanings. It was in this list that 73 got its present meaning. Later more numbers were added. Here’s a partial list: